Impressive last start Bendigo winner Zebra Finch (Lot 8) has topped the Magic Millions Digital (28 Aug-2 Sep) Sale which concluded this afternoon, with the sale achieving an overall clearance rate in excess of 77%.
Offered by Godolphin, the four-year-old gelding by Exceed and Excel was secured by Darby Racing for $165,000.
The Darby team withstood a swag of underbidders, both from Australia and Hong Kong. Some 54 bids were received for the sale topper.
A three time winner and four time placegetter, Zebra Finch was also a winner at Sandown three starts ago. His other win came as a two-year-old at Rosehill.
“I was very happy when he (Zebra Finch) was at $90,000 but that didn’t last long and we had to extend to secure him,” Scott Darby reported.
“Zebra Finch will go to Bjorn Baker and Matima (Lot 3 purchase) will go to Luke Pepper which will be the first horse we have syndicated with him.”
“We are excited to see where both horses can take us,” Darby added.
The seven horse draft from Godolphin proved popular with another of their draft, the five-year-old Steel Move (Lot 6), selling to Pride Racing for $40,000, while Luke Berger and Danny Bourke Bloodstock teamed up to secure Zensen (Lot 7) for $30,000.
The broodmare offering from Arrowfield Stud was well received by buyers and featured nine mares ready for a cover to a stallion of each purchasers choosing this breeding season. Highlights in the draft included Rainbow Song (Lot 51) who sold for $32,500, Politeness (Lot 48) who sold for $25,000 and Iskander (Lot 60) who sold for $18,000.
“We have sold through Magic Millions Digital previously but this was the first time we have offered a significant draft,” Arrowfield’s Bloodstock Manager Jon Freyer said.
“Our team is very happy with the results and were impressed by Magic Millions marketing efforts over the last week,” he added.
Lot 1, which was a 10 per cent share in superstar galloper Private Eye, sold on Monday for $22,500 to Adam Reilly. This sale was facilitated with an earlier finish to accommodate the ownership transfer ahead of his run this Saturday in the Group Two Tramway Stakes, highlighting the flexibility of the Magic Millions Digital platform.
His first foray into racehorse ownership after seeing the share advertised on Magic Millions social media, Adam purchased the share with his brother and they are now listed as new owners in the Joseph Pride trained star.
“My brother and I have been thinking about purchasing a share for a while and this share in Private Eye felt like a good starting point,” Adam Reilly said.
“Hopefully we can have some fun with him this Spring and beyond,” he added.
To view the results or to make an offer on a passed in lot click here. Entries are now open for the Magic Millions Digital (11-16 Sep) Sale and will close at midnight on Wednesday 9 September.
